Cigar-bunching machine.



No. 820,968. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

A. GORDON. GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES. IJV'VEJVTOR.

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. No. 820,968. I PATBNTED MAY 22 1906.

A. GGRDON. GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTBD MAY '22, 1906.

A. GORDON.` CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 145.1904` 4 SHEETS4-SHBET 3.

l v am@ l( l au.. [lll INVENTOR.

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V'UiuTEo sTATEs PATENT OEETOE.

,Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed July 14,1904. Serial No. 216,475.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be itl known that I, ALEXANDER GORDON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-- Bunching Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to cigar-bunching machines of the type in which a flexible apron is employed for rolling -the binder around the filler.

The invention is particularly designed for making long-filler cigar-bunches and it consists in various improvements in the construction, arrangement, and operation of different parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the drawings which accompany this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in a plane parallel to Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective front View of a portion of the machine with the parts in position as they appear at the stage of operation in which the bunch is discharged from the bunching-apron. Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view of a portion of the machine with the parts in their normal position. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the machine in a plane corresponding to that of Fig. 2, but with the parts in position as they are at the stage of the Operation shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the drive mechanism, and more especially referred to hereinafter. Fig.

7 is a vertical section through the startingand stopping mechanism, taken in a plane at right angles to Fig. l on line a; a: thereof. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detached sectional perspective view of the bunching-apron.

A is the frame upon which the operating parts are supported. B is the power-transmitting shaft carrying the transmitting-pinion O, and D is the operating-shaft ofthe machine adapted to receive its motion from the shaft B through a gear-wheel E, adapted to be thrown into mesh with the pinion O through the operation of a foot-lever F under control of the operator. To this end the gear-wheel E has a small portion of its rim cut out and carries in lieu thereof a movable gear-secti on E, provided with the arms b and d, extending upon opposite sides of the gearwheel, the former being pivotally connected thereto at a and the latter extending freely and terminating in a cam-guidef. A spring c, interposed between the arm b and the gearwheel E, normally holds the parts in position shown in Fig. 7, in which the gear-section is drawn out of operative engagementwith the pinion O. To the foot-lever F is pivotally secured the starting-rod F', which is guided at its upper end in a suitable guide-bearing on the frame. The starting-rod is normally upheld by a spring g and carries a pin h, adapted to bear upon the cam-guide of the movable gear-section and throw it into mesh with the revolving pinion C by de ressing the footever. tion E is again thrown back into its normal position by the spring c, and the shaft D will therefore be stopped after making one complete revolution.

In connection with the before-described means for imparting motion to the shaft D a locking device is provided for locking the parts in their normal position against accidental displacement, and these means (see Fig. 6) comprise a roller wrist-pin i, carried at the end of the shaft D, a pendulous hanger i', carrying the notched cam-plate i2, and a spring i3, suitably interposed between the As the wheel E revo ves the gear-secg hanger and the frame A, all so arranged that in the normal position of the parts the spring presses the hanger outwardly and causes the wrist-pin to frictionally interlock with the notch in the cam-plate, and whenever the shaft D is started this lock is readily broken and then restored again as soon as the shaft D has completed its revolution.

The rolling of the bunch is accomplished by the use of a bunching-apron I in conjunction with a bunch-former J and two carriers, or more specifically two rockers G H, which support the front and rear ends of the apron, respectively, and form a pocket therein for the reception of the filler and actuate the apron in rolling the bunch.

The rockers G H are of segmental cylindrical shape and are mounted, respectively, upon the rock-shafts K and K, both of which are suitably j ournaled on the frame. The bunching-apron is at both ends bound with metal strips j j', as shown in Fig. 10, the former having a tubular fold 7'2 for the insertion rof a rod ja, by means of which theforward end of the apron is detachably secured beneath the forward edge of the face of the rocker G,

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while the opposite edge strip is attached to an adjusting-roller Zr, which is journaled in a heel extension of the rocker H and has a longitudinal groove Zc, into which the edge strip j fits and is secured therein by winding the apron a few turns over the roller. The roller Zc carries a ratchet at one end, which engages with a pawl and forms the means for adjusting the slack of the apron. Intermediate these two points of attachment the bunchingapron passes through a slotted guide Z,formed by means of two rounded bars secured in proximity to each other on the ends of two arms m, projecting out from the frame of the rocker H, all in such manner that in the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. l, the bunching-apron at its forward end passes y over the curved face of the rocker G and thencev after forming a pocket I through the cloth-guide Z to the roller k.

The rockers G and H are jointly actuated by means of a segmental gear R, journaled upon a stub-shaft on one side of the frame and provided with a crank-arm n, to which one 'end of the connecting-rod 0 is adjustably pivoted,'the other end of said connecting-rod being pivotally connected with a crank-arm p on the shaft D, and suitable means are provided for adjusting the length of the connecting-rod. The segmental gear R transmits motion to the rockers H and G through pinions L and M, respectively, the latter being mutilated and having a portion of its periphery formed into a bearing g, adapted to hold the pinion from revolving by sliding upon a corresponding face g, formed on the segmental gear. The pinion M is also provided with an arm r, adapted to throw it into mesh by striking a projecting pin r, carried by the segmental gear, and a spring V may also be used to assist. The rocker G carries in front a plate N, pivotally secured at its lower 4end to the frame of the rocker and drawn against the same by a spring s. The free end of this plate is bent away from the face of the rocker and forms the bunch-taker. It is cut out in its middle portion to permit of grasping the bunch for removing it. Above the rocker G is adjustably secured upon suitable brackets the binder-table T, and to one side thereof a table P for the support of the molds may be secured to the frame convenient to the operator.

The bunch-former is composed of the rigid -bar J and the flexible bar or coil-spring J secured at its ends to the rear face of the rigid bar. The rigid bar J forms a rigid member of an oscillating frame formed with side bars O, which are pivotally secured at t to the frame and project with their upper ends in the path of two striker-arms Z Z carried by the rocker H, and which, as shown in Fig. 4, may be conveniently provided b extending the bar Z at both ends. The osci lating frame practically carries the bunch-former in a horizontal plane, 'and it is actuated in the forward direc'- tion by a spring S g but in the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 1, it is held in its most rearward position by the strikerpins Z, which bear against the upper ends of the side bars O.

In Figs. l and 2 the upper ends of the bars O are shown with guide-slots u formed in them, into which the striker-arms Z Zengage; but in Figs, 3, 4, and 5 the bars are shown without these guide-slots, and the latter is the preferred construction, although either one may be used. The bar J of the bunch-former is provided with slots v, in which are adj ustably supported to slide therein the stops n, adapted to maintain the coilspring in position against upward deflection at the points against which they bear.

Having described the construction and arrangement of the parts, the operation is as follows: The operatorA having gathered and arranged the necessary quantity of long-filler tobacco for making a bunch of the proper size places the same in the pocket of the bunching apron and spreads a suitable binder in front of it upon the table T, as in the usual manner. By depressing the footlever the operator then starts the machine, which accomplishes the whole operation of bunching automatically in one revolution of the shaft D in the following manner: Upon starting the machine the rocker G will remain in a stationary position till the teeth of the rack R are brought into engagement with the pinion M; but the rocker H will begin to rock immediately in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. l, and jointly therewith the bunch-former moves forward and closes the pocket. During this joint movement of the rocker and bunch-former the slack in the apron is not materially altered, and the pocket will be closed without disturbing the filler therein; but as soon as the pocket becomes closed the slack will be taken up rapidly by the continued movement of the rocker H, and the filler is rolled in the pocket till the slack-is all taken up. Then the rocker G starts up and rocks with its face in a direction opposite to that of the rocker H. In this position of the parts, asshown in Fig. 2, the side bars O of the oscillating frame have parted engagement with the striker-arms Z, and the bunch-former is held stationary in this forward position by the spring S. The ller is now tightly inclosed in the fold of the apron at the rear of the bar J, with the coiled spring J pressing upon the top of it and shaping it while it is being rolled upon the face of the rocker G during the subsequent joint movement of both rockers, which then takes place. As both rockers are of the same radius and oscillate in opposite directions, the bunchingapron as fast as it is paid out by the rocker G will be taken up by the rocker H, and the IOO lIO

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binder will thus be drawn in and rolled around in the pocket with the filler in the usualway of forming the bunch. The rocker II thus forms a take-up, and the rocker G forms the bunchingtable on which the bunch is being rolled till it passes the bunch-former- In this position (see Fig. 5) the pocket in the bunching-apron is opened and the bunch is forced into the bunch-taker by the joint action of the tension of the spring J, as wellas by the tension of the bunching-apron, which, as shown, has been fully paid out by the rocker G and extends inwardly and forms one side of the bunch-taker in the delivery of the bunch, and since tne tension ofthe spring s is also acting upon the bunch it will be seen that the bunch is never giventhe slightest chance to loosen. When the delivery of the bunch to the bunch-taker is effected, the shaft D has completed one-half of its revolution, and a reverse movement will take place which returns the parts to the normal position. Different sizes of bunches may be rolled with the same machine by adjusting the stops e and regulating the slack of the apron.

The advantages which are derived from my improved construction are, first, the work of the machine is carried on close up in front of the operator; second, the filler is formed 'and shaped before the binder is drawn in;

third, the shape of the bunch is perfectly controlled and any desired shape may be made; fourth, the bunch is delivered and held by the bunch-taker with'suflicient pressure to prevent it from swelling; fifth, the rocker G, the face 0f which forms the buncning-table, remains stationary till the slack in the apron is all taken up, and as the bindertable is wholly stationary the operator is given more time to do his work; siXtn, the bunch is positively delivered by the apron g seventh, the bunch-former is actuated by a spring and there is no danger of the operator having his fingers hurt in the machinery 5 eighth, it makes no difference in which direction the motion is transmitted, and thus two rows of machines placed back to back can be driven from the same line-shaft; ninth, the manner of carrying the apron upon two rockers saves wear and tear ofthe apron; tenth, the substitution and adjustment of a new apron does not require any particular skill and can be done by any operator.

What I claim'as my invention isl. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to 'form a pocket in said apron and to actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a bunch-former movable toward said front carrier in advance of the movement of the same and operating to confine the 'filler in the pocket of the apron, and thence to hold the bunch in stationary position while being rolled.

2. In a cigar-bunching machine, the come bination with the launching-apron, of oscillating front and rear carriers having segmental cylindrical faces and adapted to form a pocket in said apron and to actuate the same by the movement of said carriers, the rear carrier having a movement in advance of the front carrier and being located above the front carrier and adapted to carrythe rear end of the apron forwardly over the front carrier and thereby close `the pocket in the apron by the movement of said carrier alone.

3. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron, of oscillating front and rear carriers having segmental cylindrical faces and adapted to hold the apron in their normal position to form a pocket for the reception of the filler and to close the same by an independent movement of the rear carrier while the front carrier remains stationary, and a bunch-former conjointly moving with the rear carrier` in advance of the movement of the front carrier and cooperating therewith to close the pocket and confine the 'filler therein.

4. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron, of oscillating front and rear carriers having segmental cylindrical faces and normally holding the apron in position to form a pocket for receiving the filler, said rear carrier having an independent movement in advance of the front carrier and operating to close the pocket in the apron while the front carrier remains sta tionary and the front carrier having a conjointed movement with the rear carrier adapted to actuate the apron.

5. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in said apron and actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a movable bunchformer actuated by the movement of the rear carrier and adapted to close the pocket in the apron in the movement of said rear carrier in advance of that of the front carrier, said carrier being adapted to maintain the slack in the apron during the movement of the bunch-former in closing the pocket.

6. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron, of oscillate ing front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in the apron and to actuate the same in rolling the bunch, the rear carrier having an independent movement in advance of thefront carrier and a conjointed movement with the front carrier for actuating the apron in rolling the bunch and a bunch-former actuated by the rear carrier in the independent movement thereof and remaining stationary during the conjointed movement of the carriers.

7. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in said apron and to actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a movable bunch- IOO IOS

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rear carrier in advance of the front carrier and adapted to close the pocket in said apron and means whereby the front carrier remains stationary and is locked in position till the pocket is closed and the slack is taken out of the apron.

8. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in said apron and to actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a movable bunchformer, and means for imparting a oint movement to the rear carrier and to the bunch-former in advance of the movement of the front carrier and adapted to irst close the pocket in the apron and thence to take the slack out of the apron, while the front carrier remains stationary and is locked in position.

9. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its Jfront and rear carriers adapted to Jform a pocket in said apron and actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of means for imparting a conjoint movement to said carriers and an independent movement to the rear carrier in advance of the Jfront carrier, and a movable bunch-former cooperating with the rear carrier to close the pocket and take up the slack in the apron during the independent movement of said rear carrier.

10. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in said apron and actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a movable bunchformer, an actuating-spring therefor adapted to move it into operative position, and hold the same in rolling the bunch and means for controlling the movement of said bunchformer by the movement of the rear carrier, said rear carrier having a movement in advance of the front carrier.

11. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in said apron and to actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of means for imparting movement to the rear carrier in advance of the front carrier, a movable bunch-former, means adapted to move said bunch-former into operative position by the advance movement of the rear carrier and to release the same from engagement with said rear carrier when in said position and a spring adapted to hold said bunch-former in its operative position independently of said rear carrier.

12. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its front and rear carriers adapted to form a pocket in said apron and to actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a bunch-former, an oscillating frame carrying said bunch-former,

a spring adapted to actuate the frame toy move'said bunch-former into operative position and yieldingly hold the same in said position and means for controlling the movement of said frame by the movement of the rear carrier, said means adapted to release said frame from control when the bunchformer has moved into operative position.

13. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its carriers adapted to form a pocket in the apron and actuate the same in rolling the bunch, of a bunch-former composed in parts of a flexible pressure-b ar and means applied thereto for shortening or lengthening the portions of said bar subjected to fleXure in rolling. v

14. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its cooperating carriers, of a bunch-former composed ol' a rigid and a flexible portion or pressure-bar, and means for supporting said flexible portion upon the rigid portion at variable points of its length against fleXure in rolling the bunch.

15. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the bunching-apron and its cooperating carriers, of a bunch-former composed of a rigid bar, a coil-spring secured at its ends to the rigid bar and supports carried by the rigid bar slidingly adjustable thereon and adapted to support said coil-spring intermediate its ends against exture in rolling the bunch.

16. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame, of a bunching-apron, oscillating front and rear carriers for said apron, each consisting of a rocker mounted upon a shaft j ournaled in the frame and provided with a segmental cylindrical face for the apron to wind upon, and actuating devices therefor comprising pinions carried by the shafts of the rockers and an oscillating gear-segment traveling in continuous mesh with the pinion of the rear carrier and in discontinuous mesh with the pinion on the ont carrier whereby said front carrier remains stationary during a portion of the movement of the rear carrier.

17. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame, of abunching-apron, oscillating front and rear carriers for said apron each consisting cfa rocker mounted upon a shaft journaled in the Jframe and provided with a segmental cylindrical face for the apron to wind upon, and actuating devices therefor comprising pinions carried by the shafts of the rockers and an oscillating segmental rack traveling in continuous mesh with the pinion of the rear carrier and in discontinuous mesh with the pinion of the front carrier, said pinion and rack having mutilated portions adapted to delay the motion of the front carrier and lock the same in position and means for throwing said rack and pinion into gear at the end of the dela-y.

18. In a cigar-bunching machine,v the com- IOO IIO

bination with the frame,of a bunching-apron, oscillating front and rear carriers for said apron each consisting of a rocker mounted upon a shaft journaled in the frame and provided with a segmental cylindrical face for the apron to wind upon, pinions carried by the shafts of the rockers, an oscillating rack in continuous mesh with the pinion of the rear carrier and in discontinuous mesh with the pinion ofthe front carrier, means for locking said front carrier in position when not in mesh with the rack and means for imparting one complete oscillation to the oscillating rack under` control of a foot-lever.

19. In a cigar-bunching machine, the cornbination with the frame and bunching-apron, of oscillating front and rear carriers for said apron consisting of rockers mounted upon shafts journaled in the frame,'pinions on said shafts, an oscillating rack actuating said pinions, a continuously-revolving pinion., a gearwheel meshing with said pinion and having a hinged section carrying a small portion of the gear-teeth of said wheel, a spring for normally throwing said section out of operative position, a foot-lever adapted to throw the same into operative position, a crank carried by the shaft of the gear-wheel, and a connecting-rod connecting said crank with the oscillating rack and adapted to actuate the same, means being provided for frictionally locking the shaft of the gear-wheel after each revolution into its prescribed normal position.

20. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame and bunching-apron, of oscillating front and rear rockers mounted upon shafts journaled in the frame and adapted to actuate the apron in forming the bunch, pinions mounted upon the shafts of the rockers, an 'oscillating rack adapted to oscillate the rockersfthrough the medium of said pinions and impart a conj ointed motion thereto and an independent motion to the rear rocker in advance of the front rocker, a movable bunchformer actuated by the rear rocker in advance of the front rocker, and means under control of the operator for imparting to the rack one complete oscillation through a prescribed angle of motion.

21. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame and the bunchingapron, of front and rear carriers therefor adapted to form a pocket in the apron and actuate the same in rolling the bunch, a movlable bunch-former actuated by the rear carrier and cooperating therewith to contract the pocket in the apron around the filler and carry it into position for rolling while the front carrier remains stationary, and a stationary table above the front carrier and adapted to support the binder in position.

22. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame and bunching-apron, of oscillating front and rear carriers for the apron, each consisting of a segmental cylindrical rocker cooperating with each other in rolling the bunch, the one in front forming the bunching-table and operating to pay out the apron in a rearward direction and the one in rear operatingl to take up the apron in an upward and forward direction, the rockers being of like radius and oscillating in opposite directions.

23. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame and bunching-apron, of oscillating front and rear carriers for the apron each consisting of a segmental cylindrical rocker cooperating with each other in rolling the bunch, the front rocker adapted to form the table and pay out the apron in a rearward direction and the rear rocker adapted to take up the apron in an upward and forward direction, the two rockers being of the same radius and oscillating alike but in opposite directions, and a movable bunchformer cooperating with the rear rocker to take up the slack in the apron in advance of the movement of the front rocker and remaining stationary in rolling the bunch.

24. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the frame and bunching-apron, of a stationary binder-table, an oscillating rocker below said table carrying the front end of the apron and forming the table for rolling the bunch, an oscillating rocker above the table carrying the rear end of the apron, the two rockers adapted to form a pocket in the apron adjacent to the rear end of the bindertable and to actuate the apron in rolling the bunch by oscillating in opposite directions to each other, and a movable bunch-former cooperating therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER GORDON.

Witnesses:

OT'ro F. BARTHEL, Lnwis E. FLANDERS.

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